Fear of Scary Things and Broken Relationships

Chapter 9.

The four heroes stood on one of the many skyscrapers, overlooking Gotham city. They were content that the hunt was a success. The night in Gotham was almost over, and so was the cooperation between the Titans and Batman with his partner.

"The two of you did a good job," Batman said, addressing to Robin and Raven.

Robin turned to his mentor with a smile on his face. "Thanks."

"Sounds crazy, but a good thing that Scarecrow sold had his gas to the wrong person, otherwise you won't be here at the first place," Batgirl said.

"It turned out very convenient indeed," Raven said, annoyed by the fact that Batgirl was right, no matter what trouble the feargas had caused to her teammates.

"I think it's time for you to go home," Batman said.

Robin was silent for a moment. "Yeah, I guess so..." Another silent moment followed, this time a little longer. he didn't bother to look around, he knew that Batman was already gone but he also knew that Batgirl was still on the rooftop. "You better go after him."

Batgirl and Raven looked around and found out that Batman had indeed disappeared. Raven wondered how he did that while Batgirl let out a sigh. "Just like that huh?" She had an idea where Batman might be as she fired her grapple gun. She turned to Robin and Raven for one more last time. "Alright, goodbye Robin." She went after the Dark Knight.

Robin remained silent as he overlook the skyline of Gotham City.

"You miss it."

"Yes."

"I understand."

No more words were needed, they knew where they are talking about. Robin missed Gotham City, the night, the hunt and even Batman himself and she couldn't blame him. She had learned more about him and the night in Gotham with Batman did impressed her. They remain silent as they enjoyed the view.

It took a while when Robin finally turned to Raven. "C'mon," he started, catching her attention as a thin smile appeared on his face. "Let's go home".

Raven returned the smile. She opened a portal and while she stepped through it Robin took one last glance at the direction where he recognized a silhouette on top of a nearby taller building. "See you next time." He then stepped went through the portal.

Raven stepped out the portal into the Titan Tower's common room. The sound of the PlayStation sounded through the room, combined with the familiar bickering of Cyborg and Beast Boy and a cheering Starfire. Raven pulled her hood down with a thin smile on her face. Robin stepped next to her and the portal closed after him. "Looks like everything is back to normal."

Starfire turned to Raven's voice. Her face light up once she spotted both Robin and Raven. "Friends Robin and Raven, how glorious to see the both of you back home in safety!"

Both Cyborg and Beast Boy turned their heads away from the screen and saw Robin and Raven in the middle of the room. "Dudes, you're back!" Beast Boy smiled.

Starfire flew to Robin and embraced him with a bone crushing hug. "I am so grateful that the two of you are able to help us with the ending of the horrendous illusions we had earlier on this day."

"...can't...breath... Star..."

Starfire released Robin as she immediately regretted the crushing hug, allowing Robin to breath once again. "My apologies friend Robin."

"It's good to see ya'll back." Cyborg said.

Robin was able to smile again. "Thanks Cyborg."

"Dude, we owe you, big time."

"Don't mention it," Raven said.

"We couldn't have it done without help," Robin said.

"You mean the Batman of which friends Cyborg and Beast Boy have spoken?" Starfire anxiety asked.

"Yeah, we had a great time."

"I do not understand, Cyborg and Beast Boy told me that the Batman was a dark and scaring crime fighter in an unpleasant, dark and dangerous place you are calling the City of Gotham where most of the criminals are having weapons you are calling guns and do not hesitate to use them of which we are not trained to fight against it. How can you have a great time in such horrible place like that?"

"I won't mind to live in Gotham," Raven simply said. Everyone except Robin looked at her as if she had grown an extra pair of eyes. "What?"

"Dude, Raven, you can't be serious?! I mean, all the darkness and those freaking old stuff and all these buildings with scaring looking statues and more stuff and the Big Bat and then there's all these..." Beast Boy stopped rambling when something crossed his mind. "Oh, right, I forgot, you're Raven I'm talking to. All you do is being dark."

Raven rolled her eyes while Robin grinned. "It's not that bad, it's just a different place, that's all. But now I'm glad that everything is back to normal."

"Alright! Let's celebrate!" Cyborg boomed. "I've picked up a great sci-fi movie, we've a bunch of popcorn, enough drinks for days and off course we'll order pizza," he beamed as he tapped on his fingers. "Whatcha say?"

"Sounds fun to me," Robin smiled.

"It is a fabulous suggestion! I am always enjoying the moving images of this Earth."

"As long it's vegetarian, I'm in!"

Cyborg gazed at Raven, waiting for her answer.

"Just get over with."

"Alright! Let's getting started!"

Batman and Batgirl hadn't moved since Robin and Raven had disappeared through a portal. It was quite a strange night for them, having Robin back brought them good memories but also a few bad ones. It was a long time since Robin moved away from Gotham and settled on the other side of the country.

He and Robin didn't break apart under the best circumstances, Batman knew that he had a role in it and blame himself a bit. Although Robin didn't say it out loud, Batman knew that it was all forgiven. He was glad to see Robin once again and had faith in his future. After all he wasn't alone. All he could do was being proud of his protégé.

As for the Teen Titans, they can handle themselves well enough. He wasn't really impressed by the others though, but in his eyes the dark lady had showed some potential. She didn't showed her nerves and thinking back, he was quite amused by the short glaring contest between them. He wondered how long Clark would last.

Batgirl looked back with mixed feeling, she was glad to see Robin again, she missed him after all. As Barbara, she used to date with Dick, but that was before they knew each other's secrets. Now she moved on and highly doubted that she could renew their relationship. Especially after she took a closer look at Robin and Raven, the two of them seems to be very close. The one moment in the warehouse when Robin knew what Raven would do with Scarecrow strengthen her doubt. She wondered how things like that could happened. Batgirl hoped that Batman could answered that question.

"You know, it's kinda weird that Robin and Raven know what they are doing by only looking at each other. Do they talk through their minds or something?"

"No, they just understand each other. If two people with similar backgrounds are close enough for some time, things like that can grow into each other," Batman explained. "Robin and I had it once."

"That makes sense."

"Yes, but his connection with her is stronger than I had with him."

"What does it mean?"

"I'm not sure. Raven is the one who have to control her emotion, otherwise things might go wrong. What she did with Crane was nothing compared to what she is able to do. However, there is something going on between them what makes them more at ease and open their mind to each other."

"Sound like they like each other."

"They do, but to what level, I don't know." They were silent for a while till Batman slightly turned to her. "Let's call it a night."

Batgirl nodded. Both of them fired their grapple gun and disappeared in the night.